Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's longest cable-stayed bridge, the Sudarshan Setu, which connects the Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel attended the inauguration ceremony alongside him.

The bridge boasts a distinctive design featuring a footpath adorned with verses from the Bhagavad Gita and images of Lord Krishna. Additionally, it is equipped with solar panels, enabling it to generate one megawatt of electricity.

The construction of the 2.32 km bridge, costing Rs 979 crore, holds significant importance for local residents and pilgrims who visit the Dwarkadhish Temple. The bridge, boasting a width of 27.20 meters, features 2.50-meter-wide footpaths on both sides.

Located approximately 30 km from Dwarka town, Beyt Dwarka is an island near the Okha port, housing the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna. Initiated by the Centre in 2017 to ease travel for devotees, the Sudarshan Setu connects Okha and Bet Dwarka. So, devotees don’t need to take boat transport to reach the Dwarkadhish Temple.

The bridge, a part of PM Modi's 'Viksit Bharat' initiative, addresses local transportation issues and is expected to enhance tourism, save time, and improve healthcare access.

After inauguration PM Modi offered prayers at the Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat's Dwarka by diving into deep water. Describing the experience as "divine", PM Modi expressed a sense of profound connection to an ancient era of spiritual magnificence.

Prime Minister wrote on X, "To pray in the city of Dwarka, which is immersed in the waters, was a very divine experience. I felt connected to an ancient era of spiritual grandeur and timeless devotion. May Bhagwan Shri Krishna bless us all."

He added, "When I went deep in the sea, I experienced the divinity. I bowed down in front of Dwarkadhish, taking a peacock feather with me, and placed it at Lord Krishna's feet. Today, I am full of emotions as I have fulfilled a decades-old dream of visiting and touching the remains of the ancient Dwarka city."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly established Microbiology Laboratory and 17 Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs) virtually. These facilities are located at the State Public Health Laboratory in Bamunimaidam, Guwahati, under the Commissionerate of Food Safety, Department of Health Family Welfare.

The advanced microbiology Laboratory was built for Rs 4.64 crore by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), with financial help from an agreement signed between FSSAI and the state of Assam.

The Laboratory, set up at the state Public Health Laboratory, Assam, is the only FSSAI-notified and National Accreditation for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited Laboratory in the state. It will analyze food samples, detect harmful pathogens, and ensure compliance with food safety standards to prevent foodborne illnesses.

Image source: India Today